Method and apparatus for encoding and treating strips of photographic print

ABSTRACT

A strip consisting of a row of photographic prints and a marginal portion which extends along one side of the row of prints is transported lengthwise past a photoelectric scanning device which produces signals in response to detection of successive indicia encoded on the marginal portion at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints. The signals are used to arrest the strip at intervals, always in such position that a boundary between a pair of neighboring prints is located in the range of a movable knife which separates the prints from each other. A perforating or cutting unit is mounted ahead of the scanning device or between the movable knife and the scanning device to perforate or completely separate the marginal portion from the row of prints. If the marginal portion is to be completely separated from the row of prints ahead of the scanning device, the separated sections of the marginal portion are guided toward and past the scanning device in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the row of prints. The indicia are exposed on the marginal portion during the making of prints, and the strip is thereupon developed prior to scanning, severing and separation of the marginal portion.

. Unite States Patent [19] Zahn et a l, 7

- I451 May 21,1974

[75] Inventors: Wolfgang Zahn; Hans-Peter Huber, a both of Munich, Germany We .4 -M

r [73] Assigneei AGFA'Gevaefl Aktiengeseuschafl A strip consisting of a row of photographic prints and r Leverkusen Germany a marginal portion which extends along one side ofthe [22] Fil d; A 21, 1972 row of prints is'transported'lengthwise past a photoelectric scanning device which produces signals in re- (Under Rule 47) sponse to detection of successive indicia encoded on [21] Appl. No; 282,035 the marginal portion at predetermined distances from I v successive boundaries between neighboring prints. [30] Foreign Application Prio it Data 7 V The signals are used to-arrestb the strip at intervals, al-- n 9 ways in such position that a oundary betweena pair 1971; Germany ofneighboring prints is located in the range of a movable knife which separates the prints from each other. [52] g g g'l 'i ghd" g 3 f 2 A perforating or cutting unit is mounted ahead of the [51 Int C G03b 29/00 scanning device or between the movable knife and the [58] I Fieid 205 301 I scanning device to perforate or completely separate 83/365 367 408 3. 352/56 the marginal portion from the row of prints. If the I 355/28 marginal portion is to be completely separated 'from I the row of prints ahead of the scanning device, the r separated sections of the marginal portion are guided I5 References Cited toward and past the scanning device in unchanged UNTED STATES PATENTS spatial relationship relative to the row of prints. The 1,957,864 5/1934 TUIIIC 8t Zil. 83/408 X indicia are exposed en the marginal portion during the 3,'I53.962 10/1964 Mercer et al. 83/301 X making o prints, and the strip is thereupon developed 2 52; 35: ags prior to scanning, severing and separation of the mara 3 3,699,832 10/1972 Smith er al 83/367 x ff L gf FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 21 Cl 4 D F i 7, ,472 1' 1 i9 5 ge/"i 355/40 9 3 9 v g METHOD AND APPARATUS For; Primary Hammer-fried L. Braun ENCODING AND TREATING STRIPS OF Attorney, Agent,- or FirmMichael S. Striker PHQTOGRAPHIC PRHNT I METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ENCODING AND TREATING STRIPS OF PHOTOGRAPHIC PRINT BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION i carries a series of identical or different encoded indicia ries, automatic severing of strips of photographic prints to obtain discrete prints has found widespread acceptance because it contributes to savings in time and personnel. As a rule, the'strip of photographic prints is provided with indicia which can be exposed on or otherwise applied to the photosensitive material and can be scanned during automatic transport of strips through a severing apparatus. The exposed indicia are developed together with the prints and are thenrcady to be scanned for generation of signals which are used to sever the strip in-order to form a succession of discrete photographic prints.

In accordance with the presently prevailing practice, the indicia are exposed onto the rear side of the strip of photographic prints. It is also known to apply to the rear side of a strip of photographic prints indicia in the form of .currenbconducting spots'which are detected during transport of the strip through the severing apparatus.

A drawback of the just described mode of applying indicia is that the scanning of indicia at the rear side of a rapidly moving strip presents serious problems. Fur thermore, the rear sides of strips of photographic prints are often laminated or coated which interferes with proper application and detection of indicia.

, It is further known to encode the indicia which are to be scanned for the purpose of facilitating the severing at the front side of a strip of photographic prints. The indicia remain on the prints and might detract from their appearance. Furthermore, the so-called marginfree prints are becoming increasingly popular, and it is evident that the indicia cannot be encoded on the front side of a strip which is to be subdivided into discrete margin-free prints.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION front sides of strips.

A' further object of the invention is to provide a method of encoding, scanning and subdividing strips 2 which are to yield margin-free, substantially margin free or conventionalphotographic prints.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for treating strips of photographic prints wherein the information which has been applied to facilitate automatic severing of strips or which has been applied for other purposes is encoded on the front sides of strips.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved apparatus for making margin-free photographic prints.

The method of the present invention is utilized for treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to the row of prints. The method comprises the steps of encoding on the marginal portion of the strip discrete indicia located at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints on the strip, scanning the marginal portion for the presence of indicia and utilizing the thus detected indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location, and at least partially separating the marginal portion from the remaining portion of the strip either upstream or downstream of the scanning station but invariably upstream of th severing location.

The scanning step mayprecede or it may follow the separating step; and the strip is preferably developed prior to the scanning and separating steps. The separating step may comprise providing the strip with a line of perforations which is located between the marginal portion and the row of prints and which weakens the strip sufficiently to allow for convenient and effortless complete separation of the marginal portion prior or subsequent to subdivision of the strip into discrete prints.

The separating step may comprise completely separating successive increments of the marginal portion immediately or shortly prior to scanning of successive indicia and maintaining the completely separated increments of the marginal portion in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the remaining portion of the strip during scanning of indicia on the separated incremen-ts. I

If the scanning of successive indicia precedes the separation of corresponding sections of the marginal portion, the method may further comprise the steps of transporting the strip lengthwise through a predetermined distance following the detection of an indicium and severing the strip across successive boundaries between neighboring prints during the periods of dwell following successive transports through the predetermined distances.

The severing of the strip may include stamping successive prints out of the strip upon detection of successive indicia.

If the marginal portion consists at least in part of photosensitive material, the encoding step preferably comprises exposing the indicia onto the marginal portion simultaneously with the making of prints. The method then preferably further comprises the step of developing the prints and the marginal portion prior to the separating and scanning steps.

The encoding step may further comprise applying to the marginal portion at least one additional indicium or symbol denoting the last print of the row of prints, applying to the marginal portion additional information representing the date of the making of prints (such date can be applied to the marginal portion a number of times, once for each print on the strip), applying to the marginal portion additional indicia representing the serial numbers (consecutive numbering) of prints of the row of prints, and/or applying to the marginal portion additional indicia representing the A correction values during the exposure of photographic prints.

If the marginal portion is provided with two or more types of indicia, at least one type of indicia may be placed nearer to the row of prints than at least one other type of indicia. The encoding step may further comprise applying to the marginal portion at least one additional indicium whose coloration may be different from the coloration of indicia which are used to facilitate the placing of successive boundaries between neighboring prints in the severing location. This is particularly advisable if the strip carries a row of color prints. The scanning means is-then designed to discriminate between the various colors of the encoded indicia.

The novel features which are considered ascharacteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The improved apparatus itself, however, both-as to its construction and its mode of operation, together with additional features and advantages thereof, will be best understood'upon perusal of the following detailed description of certain specific embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a strip which can be subdivided into discrete margin-free prints;

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective viewof an apparatus for effecting partial separation of the marginal portions from strips of the type shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic elevational view of an apparatus for effecting complete separation of marginal portions from strips of the type shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of a modified strip which can be treated in the apparatus of FIG. 2 or 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 illustrates a portion of a strip 1 which consists of a single row of closely adjacent exposed and developed photographic prints 2 and .a relatively narrow marginal portion 3 which is provided with a variety of exposed and developed encoded indicia 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d. The prints 2 are of the type known as margin-free prints, i.e., each thereof extends all the way to the upperedge of the strip ;1, as viewed in FIG. 1, and the boundaries 4 between neighboring prints 2 are either in the form of lines or rather narrow stripes which can be removed during subdivision of the strip 1 into discrete prints. The width of the marginal portion 3 may be between 3 and 5 millimeters. The boundaries 4-will be removed from the strip during subdivision into discrete prints if the prints 2 are so close to each other that their imagesoverlap. When a print 2 iscompletely separated from the strip 1, it is without margins along three of its sides and the fourth side extends along the respective section of the marginal portion 3.

The indicia 3a on the marginal portion 3 are remote from the row of prints 2, i.e., they are more distant than the indicia 3b, 3c. The indicia 3a can be scanned to properly arrest the strip 1 for severing across one of the boundaries 4'between a pair of neighboring prints 2. The indicia 3b may represent encoded information relating to the extent and/or nature of corrections which were carried out during the making of the respective prints 2, and the indicia 30 may constitute encoded information representing the serial numbers of respective prints 2 in the strip 1. At least one of the indicia 3b, 3c (or an additional indicium) may represent the order number and/or the number of a customer, dealer or agency from which the respective film was received and to which the prints 2 are to be delivered or mailed. The marginal portion 3 further carries unencoded information indicating the date of making of the respective prints. The single indicium 3d is located in line with the indicia 3a and indicates the end of the strip, i.e., that the last print 2 has been removed and that no further transport or scanning of the strip 1 is necessary. The indicium 3d is located at a predetermined distance from and in line with the nearest indicium 3a so that it can be scanned by the same detector or detectors which scan the indicia 3a.

It is equally possible to provide the marginal portion 3 with differently colored indicia 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d by using a printer with a set of color filters. This is desirable if the photosensitive layer on the strip 1 is suited for the making of color prints. The reading of differently colored indicia can be effected by resorting to photosensitive detectors located behind differently colored filters.

- The indicia 3a-3d are preferably exposed on the marginal portion 3 simultaneously with the making of prints. A printing apparatus which can expose such indicia on photosensitive material is disclosed for example, in US. Pat. No. 2,827,826 or in US. Pat. No. 3,443,867.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of an apparatus for the treatment of strips 1 in accordance with the invention. The strip 1 is transported lengthwise in the direction indicated by arrow 5 and is preferably drawn from a bobbin, such as the bobbin 20 shown in FIG. 3. The advancing or transporting means for the strip 1 comprises two rolls 6, 7 at least one of which is driven stepwise so that the strip 1 advances until the foremost boundary 4 reaches a severing device 13 including two stationary knives 15, 16 and a movable knife 14 which is located in the plane between the knives 15, 16. The details of theseveringdevice 13 are disclosed in the commonly owned copending application Ser. No. 275,076 filed July 25, 1972 by Erich Nagel et. a]. and entitled Apparatus for severing paper sheets or the like.

The apparatus of FIG. 2 further comprises photoelectric scanning means 8 which scans the marginal portion 3 of the moving strip 1 and serves to transmit signals to arresting means for the advancing means 6, 7 in response to detection of successive indicia 3a, always with such a delay that a boundary 4 is located in the plane of the movable knife 14 when the strip I dwells between successive stepwise movements in the direction indicated by arrow 5. The strip 1 is assumed to have been transported through a developing machine prior to moving its leader into the range of the advancing rolls 6, 7.

which reaches the marginal portion 3 by passing through the lens '11 isreflected and diffused and impinges on a photosensitive element 12 which is located above the path of movement of indicia 3a and 3d. The element 12 produces signals which are transmitted to an arresting circuit 120 which, in turn, arrests a drive 67 for the rolls 6, 7 when the element 12 is exposed to light reflected by an indicium 3a. A suitable scanning system is disclosed in the commonly owned copending application Ser. No. 176,924 filed Sept. 1, 1971 by Huber et. al. g

The severing device 13' is installed at a predetermined distance behind the scanning means 8, as considered in the direction of movement of the strip 1.

The apparatus of FIG. 2 further comprises a separating device 17 here shown as a perforating unit which includes a toothed perforating wheel 18 and a counter wheel 19. The wheels 18, 19 cooperate to partially separate the marginal portion 3 by providing the strip 1 with a row of perforations 49 extending between the portion 3 and the adjacent edges of the prints 2.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 2 is as follows; a

' A roll (not shown) of convoluted strip 1 is mounted to the left of the perforating unit 17 and its leader is caused to pass between the wheels 18, 19 and into the I nip of the advancing rolls6, 7. The teeth of the wheel 18 perforate the strip 1 so that the marginal portion 3 is partially separated from the print-bearing major portion. The perforations of the strip 1 are shown at 49. The photosensitive element 12 of the scanning means 8 produces signals in response to detection of successive arresting indicia 3a whereby the circuit 120 arrests the advancing rolls 6, 7' at the exact moment when a boundary 4 is located in the path of movement of the knife 14 of the severing device 13. The severing device 13 is of the type which bodily removes narrow pieces of material of the strip 1, i.e., which bodily removes the material of the boundaries 4 so that each discrete print behind the severing device 13 is without a margin along three of its sides and has a readily separable margin (a section of the marginal portion 3) along its fourth side. The margin along the fourth side of each discrete print can be readily separated by destroying the material between successive perforations formed by the teeth of the wheel 18. The prints are delivered or mailed to customers in the form as they appear upon severing of the strip 1, and the customers can decide to leave or to separate the sections of the marginal portion 3. This is done on purpose because certain customers might wish to leave the sections of marginalportion 3 unseparated in order to be able to immediately determine the date (see FIG. 1) on which the prints were i made.

The apparatus of FIG. 2 can be modified by replacing the perforating unit 17 with a device which is capable of completely separating the marginal portion 3 from the print-bearing major portion of the strip 1. All that is necessary is to replace the toothed wheel 18 with a disk-shaped rotary knife having a circumferentially complete cutting edge and to replace the counterwheel 19 with a rotary member .having a circumferential groove for a portion of the rotary knife. Also, such modified apparatus is to, be provided with suitable guide means 51 to guide the severed section of the marginal portion'3 toward andbelow the photosensitive element 12 of the scanning means 8 so that the rolls 6,

7 can transport the strip 1 in stepwise fashion in order to place the boundaries 4 between successive prints into the path of movement of the knife 14 in the severing device 13. In other words, the marginal portion 3 can be completely separated from successive prints 2 before the corresponding arresting indicia 3a reach the scanning station. In such modified apparatus, the device for completely separating the marginal portion 3 from the remainder of the strip 1 is preferably placed as close to the scanning means 8 as possible in order to reduce the likelihood of improper guidance of the separated section of marginal portion 3 into the range of the photosensitiveelement 12 of the scanning means 8.

FIG. 3 illustrates a further apparatus which serves to subdivide a strip 1 into discrete prints and to separate the marginal portion 3 from the strip. The difference between the just discussed modification of apparatus shown in FIG. 2 and the apparatus of FIG. 3 is that the latter apparatus completely separates the marginal portion 3 downstream of the scanning means 8 to thus reduce the likelihood of improper guidance of marginal portion 3 toward and along the photosensitive element 12.

FIG. 3 shows a bobbin or roll 20 which contains a supply of convoluted strip 1. The strip is being advanced in stepwise fashion by two advancing rolls 6, 7 and is severed by the knives 14, 15, 16 of the severing device 13 which is identical with the severing device of FIG. 1, i.e., the movable knife 14 cooperates with the stationary knives 15, 16 to remove pieces of material from the strip 1 so as to make sure that the boundaries 4 (not shown in FIG. 3) between neighboring prints 2 are removed in their entirety. The separating device of FIG. 3 comprises two rotary disk-shaped members 21, 22 one of which may constitute a knife having acircumferentially complete cutting edge and the other of which may constitute a counterknife having a hard eylindrical peripheral surface or a groove for reception of a portion of the rotary knife. As shown in FIG. 3, the scanning means 8 is located immediately upstream of the separating device 21, 22 and its component parts are denoted by reference numerals which are identical with those used in FIG. 2. The photosensitive element 12 serves to transmit signals to a control circuit or arresting circuit 23 which is further connected with a length measuring gauge 24 for the strip 1. The control circuit 23 is basically a counter which is reset to zero in response to each signal from the photosensitive element 12. The gauge 24 is a detector which measures the length of the strip 1 and produces signals until it has been passed by a predetermined length of the strip 1, i.e., by a length corresponding to that of a print 2. The control circuit 23 then arrests the drive for the advancing rolls 6, 7 and causes the movable knife 14 of the severing device 13 to remove from the strip 1 a piece having a width corresponding to that of the boundary 4 between a print 2 located to the left and a print 2 located to the right of the plane of the movable knife 14. The freshly separated print 2 descends into a collecting tray 25. The separated piece of the strip 1 can descend by gravity in the channel between the stationary knives 15, 16 of the severing device 13. The details of the control circuit 23 are disclosed in the commonly owned copending application Ser. No. 184,497 filed Sept. 28,

1971 by Friedrich Hujer and entitled Film Cutting Apparatus.

The operation of the apparatus shown in FIG. 3 is similar to that of the apparatus of FIG. 2. The main difference is that the marginal portion 3 fully adheres to the main portion of the strip 1 during transport of indicia 3a toward and into the range of the photosensitive element 12 in the scanning means 8. This reduces the likelihood of eventual misalignment of the marginal portion 3 with the remaining portion of the strip 1 and eventual severing of the strip 1 in areas other than across the boundaries 4 between successive prints 2. The sections of marginal portion 3 which are separated by the parts 21, 22 can be chopped up by the severing device 13 so that they can descend in the space between the stationary-knives l5, 16 or the apparatus of FIG. 3 may be provided with a deflector 50 which can deflect the freshly severed marginal portion 3 even before such portion reaches the advancing rolls 6 and 7. If desired, the deflector 50 can be placed between the advancing rolls 6, 7 and the severing device 13. The completely separated and deflected marginal portion 3 can be collected in a suitable receptacle, not shown.

It is further within the purview of the invention to provide the apparatus of FIG. 2 or 3 with a combined severing and separating device which is capable of severing the strip 1 to form discrete prints 2 and of simultaneously removing the marginal portion 3 from discrete prints. Such combined severing and separating device may constitute a stamping or punching unit which is actuated in response to signals from the photosensitive element 12 to separate from the strip 1 one discrete margin-free print 2 at a time. The just described modification of the apparatus must be provided with a more complex separating and severingmeans but it occupies less room than the illustrated apparatus and exhibits all'advantages of the apparatus of FIG. 3, i.e., the marginal portion 3 continues to adhere to the print-bearing portion of the strip 1 during transport of indicia 3a into the range of the photosensitive element It is further clear that the improved apparatus can be used with equal advantage for the treatment of strips which are provided with customary white margins all around each of the prints. The marginal portion is then adjacent to one continuous white margin as illustrated in FIG. 4 wherein the strip is shown at 101, the prints at 102, the white margins around the prints 102 at 104 and the marginal portion at 103. The marginal portion 103 will be at least partially separated (see the broken line 149) prior, during or subsequent to severing of the strip 101 in a manner as shown in FIG. 2 or 3. The'severing device 13 (or in a similar severing device) is then designed to sever each white margin 104 midway across the frame line 104F between a pair of neighboring prints 102.

The apparatus of FIG. 2 or 3 ,can be'readily converted from treatment of strips .1 to treatment of strips .101, or vice versa.

equivalence of the claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints. comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints; at least partially separating said marginal portion from the remainder of said strip; and thereupon scanning said marginal portion for the presence of said indicia and utilizing the thus detected indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of developing said strip prior to said scanning and separating steps.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said separating step comprises completely separating successive increments of said marginal portion and maintaining the completely separated increments of said marginal portion in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the remainder of said strip during scanning of indicia on the separated increments.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion an additional indicium denoting the last print of said row of prints.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional information representing the date of the making of said prints.

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional indicia representing the serial numbers of prints of said row of prints.

7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional indicia representing the correction values during the exposure of said prints.

8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion atleast one additional indicium, all of said indicia being exposed onto said marginal portion and the .color of said first mentioned indicia being different from the color of said additional indicium.

9. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints; scanning said marginalportion for the presence of said indicia and utilizing the thus detected indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location; and at least partially separating said marginal portion from the remainder of said strip, including providing the strip with a line of perforations intermediate said marginal portion and said row of prints.

10. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to-said row of prints and consisting at least in part of photosensitive material, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints, including exposing said indicia onto said marginal portion simultaneously with the exposure of said prints; developing said prints and said indicia; scanning said marginal portion forthe presence of developed indicia and utilizing the thus detecteddeveloped indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location; and at least partially separating said marginal portion with developed indicia from the remainder of said strip.

11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the scanning of successive indicia precedes the separation of corresponding sections of said marginal portion, and further comprising the steps of transporting the strip lengthwise through a predetermined distance following the detection of an indicium and severing the strip across successive boundaries between neighboring prints at said location during the periods of dwell following successive transports through said predetermined distances. i

12. A method as defined in claim 10, further com prising the step of stamping successive prints out of said strip upon detection of successive indicia.

13. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete first indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints and applying to said marginal portion additional indicia, the distance between said first indicia and said row of prints being different from the distance between said row of prints and said additional indicia; scanning said marginal portion for the presence of said first indi successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row, comprisingadvancing means for transporting strips lengthwise'along a predetermined path; scanning means adjacent to said path and having means for generatingsignals in response to detection of successive indicia on the marginal portion of the strip in said path; severing means adjacent to said path downstream of said scanning means; means for arresting said advancing means in response to said signals so as to place the boundaries between successive prints of the strip in said path into the range of said severing means; and means for at least partially separating the marginal portion from the remaining portion of a strip in said path upstream of said severing means.

15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating means comprises means for providing the strip in said path with a row of perforations.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said separating means is adjacent to said path upstream of said scanning means.

17. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating means comprising knife means for completely separating said marginal portion from the strip in said pathj 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said separating means is adjacent to said path upstream of said scanning means and further comprising guide means for guiding the severed marginal portion in said path in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the remaining portion of the strip.

19. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating meansis adjacent to said path between said scanning means and said severing means.

20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said arresting means comprises gauge means for measuring the length of the strip moving along said path and for initiating thetoperation of said severing means with a predetermined delay following the generation of one of said signals.

21. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said scanning means comprises photoelectric signal generating means. 

1. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints; at least partially separating said marginal portion from the remainder of said strip; and thereupon scanning said marginal portion for the presence of said indicia and utilizing the thus detected indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location.
 2. A method as defined in claim 1, further comprising the step of developing said strip prior to said scanning and separating steps.
 3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said separating step comprises completely separating successive increments of said marginal portion and maintaining the completely separated increments of said marginal portion in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the remainder of said strip during scanning of indicia on the separated increments.
 4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion an additional indicium denoting the last print of said row of prints.
 5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional information representing the date of the making of said prints.
 6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional indicia representing the serial numbers of prints of said row of prints.
 7. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion additional indicia representing the correction valueS during the exposure of said prints.
 8. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein said encoding step further comprises applying to said marginal portion at least one additional indicium, all of said indicia being exposed onto said marginal portion and the color of said first mentioned indicia being different from the color of said additional indicium.
 9. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints; scanning said marginal portion for the presence of said indicia and utilizing the thus detected indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location; and at least partially separating said marginal portion from the remainder of said strip, including providing the strip with a line of perforations intermediate said marginal portion and said row of prints.
 10. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints and consisting at least in part of photosensitive material, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints, including exposing said indicia onto said marginal portion simultaneously with the exposure of said prints; developing said prints and said indicia; scanning said marginal portion for the presence of developed indicia and utilizing the thus detected developed indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location; and at least partially separating said marginal portion with developed indicia from the remainder of said strip.
 11. A method as defined in claim 10, wherein the scanning of successive indicia precedes the separation of corresponding sections of said marginal portion, and further comprising the steps of transporting the strip lengthwise through a predetermined distance following the detection of an indicium and severing the strip across successive boundaries between neighboring prints at said location during the periods of dwell following successive transports through said predetermined distances.
 12. A method as defined in claim 10, further comprising the step of stamping successive prints out of said strip upon detection of successive indicia.
 13. A method of treating a strip having a row of exposed photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints, comprising the steps of encoding on said marginal portion discrete first indicia at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row of prints and applying to said marginal portion additional indicia, the distance between said first indicia and said row of prints being different from the distance between said row of prints and said additional indicia; scanning said marginal portion for the presence of said first indicia and utilizing the thus detected first indicia as an aid in positioning the respective boundaries with reference to a predetermined severing location; and at least partially separating said marginal portion from the remainder of said strip.
 14. Apparatus for treating strips of the type including a row of photographic prints and an elongated marginal portion adjacent to said row of prints and having discrete indicia located at predetermined distances from successive boundaries between neighboring prints of said row, comprising advancing means for transporting strips lengthwise along a predetermined path; scanning means adjacent to said path and having means for generating signals in response to detection of successive indicia on the marginal portion of the strip in said path; severing means adjacent to said path downstrEam of said scanning means; means for arresting said advancing means in response to said signals so as to place the boundaries between successive prints of the strip in said path into the range of said severing means; and means for at least partially separating the marginal portion from the remaining portion of a strip in said path upstream of said severing means.
 15. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating means comprises means for providing the strip in said path with a row of perforations.
 16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said separating means is adjacent to said path upstream of said scanning means.
 17. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating means comprising knife means for completely separating said marginal portion from the strip in said path.
 18. Apparatus as defined in claim 17, wherein said separating means is adjacent to said path upstream of said scanning means and further comprising guide means for guiding the severed marginal portion in said path in unchanged spatial relationship relative to the remaining portion of the strip.
 19. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said separating means is adjacent to said path between said scanning means and said severing means.
 20. Apparatus as defined in claim 19, wherein said arresting means comprises gauge means for measuring the length of the strip moving along said path and for initiating the operation of said severing means with a predetermined delay following the generation of one of said signals.
 21. Apparatus as defined in claim 14, wherein said scanning means comprises photoelectric signal generating means. 